Hayes convicted in shooting as county resumes jury trials

COLFAX – After about three hours of deliberation, a Whitman County jury Thursday found Phillip Hayes guilty of one count of Drive-By Shooting, a class B felony; one count of Reckless Endangerment, a gross misdemeanor, and one count of Reckless Driving, also a gross misdemeanor.

Hayes, who lives outside Lamont, was alleged to have drove past a farm shop and recklessly fired a .44 handgun, striking a pickup near the shop. The farmer, Rowdy Brown, stood 15 feet away from the truck when it was hit. Later that night, Hayes was also alleged to slide his car within feet of Sgt. Keith Cooper, the inve...